Developing descriptive vocabulary to show what you know, word choice defined, timelinechecklist for word choice, teaching word choice, books for teaching word choice, six point writing guide, practice papers for word choice, focused lessons for word choice, informational writing guide. Young learners examine the figurative language in 10. It creates a common vocabulary and guidelines for teachers to use with students so that they become familiar with the terms used in writing. I use it every year that i teach writing though and love so many of the books. Word choice is the use of rich, colorful, precise language that communicates not just in a functional way, but in a way that moves and enlightens the reader.
Read more about using the six traits for writing instruction. The ultimate bundle includes 54 mini lessons that teach the six traits of writing ideas, organization, voice, sentence fluency, word choice, and conventions and is intended for grades k5 within all 3 genres 18 mini lessons in each of informational, narrative and persuasivenarrativeopinion wri. Think of them as the fuel that stokes the engine of writing. Visit our 6 trait homepage to learn more about our popular inservice class.
Instead of giving away picture books since the grant was exhausted, we gave to all class participants a copy of the nnwps awesome print resource the going deep with 6 trait language guide. To support your childs first writing assignments, we made lists of picture books that match up with the six traits that teachers in arizona look for in childrens writing. Recognize the six traits within your students writing. The six traits of writing is a program originally created by vicki spandel at northwest regional educational laboratories nrel. Dont be the only one in the classroom who knows what a good one is. The six traits of writing also includes word choice.
The lyrics for this song were pulled from a scoring rubric describing advanced proficiency in the writing trait of word choice. Better articulate to your students what good writing looks and sounds like. Clear guidelines for helping young students draft, selfassess, and revise their writing. Each of the 25 weekly units provides trait based writing practice in concise activities that cover the essential traits of strong writing. The six traits that she focused on were ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency and conventions. If youre writing in english, you get a bonus that cant be found in most other languages. With this book, teachers will learn how to assess student work for these traits and plan instruction. Ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation. Ideas organization word choice sentence fluency voice conventions the 6 traits of writing by jennifer heidlknoblock and jody drake. Its a fabulous picture book for the trait of word choice. Between 2006 and 2010, the nnwp offered a variation of the original 2005 picture book inservice. Jan 24, 2016 since strong writing shares several traits, the good news is that even if writing isnt your thing, there are still many things you can do to help your child become a strong writer. I love the reproducibles and the ninestep plan for integrating word choice.
The following books provide great teacher resources for bringing the power of word choice into your classroom. Each trait breaks down your writing into easy tasks. Today the grade 5s talked about how word choice improves descriptive writing. Grade 5, reproducible teachers edition, develop your students writing skills in each of the six traits ideas, organization, word choice, sentence fluency, voice, and conventionsusing creative and dynamic writing lessons. The six researched components of all good writing ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions need to be introduced to students in a kidfriendly way. Wellrespected author vicki spandel presents an indepth look at the writing process and how it connects to. Each year, the northern nevada writing project sponsors a huge variety of inservice classes and workshops that focus on helping teachers make 6 traits the language of their. This approach defines the ingredients of effective writing for students to practice and teachers to assess, equipping both parties with tools for strategically analyzing written work.
Word choice teaching and assessing writing with the 6 traits. Well take them one at a time over the next several weeks. Sentences flow well and are carefully crafted to best express the authors message. The students wrote a rough draft of a persuasive piece about a topic they cared about. Third times a charm is it possible that one book could serve as a quick, easy to use resource for just about everything a primary teacher needs to know about writing instruction. The book helps guide you in assessment of each of these anchor pages as well. These fun stories give students a concrete background and understanding of word choice. Many teachers introduce each of the 6 traits by reading a text that. Students can print the words they discover in their reading on brightlycolored slips of paper again, color would represent part of speech and then display the words on the classrooms walls. Daily 6 trait writing gives your eighth graders scaffolded, focused writing practice. After the demonstration using different words and plotting out shades of meaning using the paint sample square, i inform students that they will create their own writing, using the word choice technique i modeled. Our picture book inservice continues in northern nevada.
An anthology of accidental assaults upon our language conventions. Complete with hanging folders one for each trait for easy, expandable storage. To me, voice is demonstrated by a writers style, phrasing, use of words, and the way heshe guides the reader to visualize and understand the central message of a piece. Thorough explanations of writing process and writing workshop expressed in practical, teacherfriendly terms. The six traits of writing your kids teacher wants to see. When i think of books that demonstrate strong sentence fluency, i think of books that have creative sentence structure. Have children invent a new word for something in the classroom. Download kristinas favorite picture books for teaching the 6 traits. Student postit notes for focus trait and supporting trait ready to copy.
Writing workshop word choice writing words, writing lessons, writing. Teaching word choice is essential for strong creative writing skills and thorough 6 trait writing instruction. Six traits word choice good lesson ideas to help little writers choose words can be adapted for freshman comp unwrapping the with primary writers. Download kristinas favorite picture books for teaching the 6. Using picture books to teach writing with the traits. Explanation of how to recognize the six traits in pictorial writing k1, intermediate writing grades 25, and secondary writing grades 612.
Essay on books are our best friends for kids booksour best friends essay. Word choice is one of the traits of quality writing. The ideas trait is about the writings overall message and meaning. Each year, the northern nevada writing project sponsors a huge variety of inservice classes and workshops that focus on helping teachers make 6 traits the language of their classrooms during writing. Recognizing the six traits in grades 612join kristina smekens to learn to recognize and celebrate the six ingredients of all good writing ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions. Author book title trait heller, ruth a cache of jewels and other collective nouns conventions. Burleigh does an incredible job of portraying the typical city noises one would hear throughout the day. Six traits training helps us teach the qualities of good writing.
Oct 23, 2019 the six traits of writing model provides a recipe for successful prose writing. Using the six traits to enrich writing process in primary classr. Word choice there are not a lot of words used in this book, but the words that are used are descriptive. Picture books to teach the writing traits quality picture books with concise traits expose students to the rich text teachers are trying to elicit from their learners. See more ideas about 6 traits, writing workshop and teaching writing. For beginning writers of any age, the blank page can be daunting. The mentor texts and some of the ideas for these lessons were expanded. Theyll give your child a great start, with examples of how to put these basic concepts into action in simple and fun ways. The six traits of writing are voice, ideas, presentation, conventions, organization, word choice, and sentence fluency. We looked at how to use thesauri to find synonyms both a book and online and how we need to look up definitions of new words. Using fiction and nonfiction childrens books as mentors, trait crate plus adds new life and energy to the teaching of writing through thoughtful and creative lessons that are readytouse tomorrow. I use it every year that i teach writing though and love so many of the books on it. Mentor texts for writers workshop with images writing lessons. One of the simplest traits of good writing is word choice.
Using the six traits to enrich writing process in primary classrooms, 3e gives new and experienced k3 teachers the most comprehensive guide available to using the highly popular six traits approach to writing. Ideas are strong when they are clear and focused and move from the general to specific. In descriptive writing, strong word choice resulting in imagery, especially sensory, showme writing, clarifies and expands ideas. Introduce the 6 traits 6 traits of writing reading. How the six traits unify your instruction of state and national standards and the expectations of statenational writing assessments.
Look at good writing in any genre, and youll find these traits. Ways to introduce the trait language to students of all ages. Download kristinas favorite picture books for teaching the 6 traits many teachers choose to introduce each of the 6 traits by reading a text that exemplifies the trait. This books is simple yet vibrantly illustrated and written. Some chose child labour, the water crisis, gaming in school, school uniforms they had to peer edit and revise with a partner. I made these to complement my houghton mifflin themed files.
Apr 02, 2017 from finding voice to conveying the right imagery through compelling figurative language and word choice, books that are traditionally used with prek can be just the ticket in helping learners with ideas, word choice, voice, organization, sentence fluency, and even conventions. And theyll be amazed at how the writing in their classroom improves. When i am working with kids on finding their voice, i often use mentor texts. With six allnew mentor texts per grade and 24 timesaving lessons, ruth culhams trait crate plus expands and enriches the readingandwriting experience. Here are a few lesson ideas and activities to help your budding writers play with their words. Students can see the trait in action within such mentor text. The traits give readers and writers a vocabulary to discuss and model components of a text in their own compositions.
Below, find some of our webmasters favorite resources and lessons that focus specifically on one word choice subskill. Traits crate plus helps students learn and use the six traits ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventionsto improve. The most comprehensive exploration of spandels effective six trait approach to writing for k3 teachers, this highly popular guide includes. Word choice focuses on specific nouns and active words as well as the use of precise language. Conventions maizels, jennie amazing popup grammar book, the conventions lederer, richard anguished english. Traits crate plus helps students learn and use the six traits ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventionsto improve specific skills in writing. Authors might convey ideas by drawing andor writing. Support any writing program with 125 engaging, 10 to 15minute lessons. An annotated bibliography of more than 200 titles with teachertested lessons by carol avery a unique approach to teaching trait writing with picture books.
Frindle is a great book for teaching the traits of ideas, voice, and word choice. Visit writingfixs word choice homepage for dozens more lessons, prompts, and resources that focus on this very important writing trait. Mark twain, a master of word choice said, the difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug. Choose a book which is heavy in the convention you wish to teach. Culham writing company helps teachers and students reach their writing goals in classrooms across the u. Focus on the writing traits of idea development and word choice in this six trait instructional activity. Teaching writing through mentor texts for the love of. In the book creating writers 2005 vicki spandel identifies six traits that are present in fine writing. After reading vicki spandels creating young writers. Initiate an intentional six traits introduction with your students. Download a pdf version of kristinas 6traits picture book recommendations.
Word choice nis pyp learning hub libguides at nanjing. Traits crate plus helps students learn and use the six traits. Teaching word choice is fun, and one of the easiest traits to show students how published authors use good word choice to convey meaning, mood, and tone. Watch six minilessons where kristina smekens introduces the six traits with six different picture books. Each of the writing traits word choice includedcan be broken down into multiple smaller writing skills thatwhen working togethermakeup the bigger trait. Everything you need to teach and assess student writing with this powerful model. It develops consistency from grade level to grade level. Mark twain, a master of word choice said, the difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a.
Word choice mentor texts that are focused on during the nnwps annual 6 trait inservice classes for teachers. Ruth culham, educator and author of the traits of writing. Find out about the six traits of writing and how they can make writing easier for you. The six traits of writing model provides a recipe for successful prose writing. From morning to night, the book covers all the sounds of the city. Nov, 2019 word choice is the use of rich, colorful, precise language that communicates not just in a functional way, but in a way that moves and enlightens the reader.
This minilesson is all about the six traits word choice trait. While using this fantastic book, i created a few companion resources which is a bundle of 18 lessons plans that teach the six traits of writing ideas, organization, voice, sentence fluency, word choice, and conventions and is intended for grades k5 within informational, narrative and persuasive writing. A book about making a book conventions safire, william fumblerules conventions. Word choice idea development details and vocabulary. Picture books to teach the writing traits donorschoose.
Quality picture books with concise traits expose students to the rich text teachers are trying to elicit from their learners. Revising is about making the content better using five of the six traits of good writing. Read alouds for teaching the six traits i dont even remember where i got this list to reference it, and i think ive also added to it. The complete guide, culham suggests a way a class can take this minilesson on word choice one step further.
Establish a common language and understanding of the traits for the rest of the school year. Each of the six traits of writing ideas, organization, voice, word choice, conventions, sentence fluency are presented on an 812 x 11in poster with a description of the trait as well as clipart to match. Apr 22, 2010 my favorite way to start our work on word choice is to read the fancy nancy books written by jane oconnor. Each trait crate contains everything you need to help students improve their writing using the six traits of writing ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and convention. Sentences can be long and winding joining one idea to the next or can be purposefully short and choppy, but the message is. Word choice is the specific vocabulary that a writer chooses to use. Using the six traits writing rubric, i ask students to pair with a partner and focus on the word choice section of the rubric. Certain picture books are remarkably better than others when it comes to word choice, voice, fluency, ideas and more. Word choice can be the difference between writing that is alive and writing that is dead on the page. Author book title trait heller, ruth a cache of jewels and other collective nouns conventions cleary, brian p. Lots of other fun vocabulary building activities for the younger grades. Reynolds books are always whimsical and inviting to young readers. Fancy nancy is a great book to teach word choice and target precise language.
426 729 1016 888 691 926 362 1455 1144 1266 1143 1344 99 568 1430 84 56 1429 552 1451 641 1346 291 1195 252 1106 202 333 968 437 1270 602 1339 592 1024 977 165 1371 248 1181 446 1206 956